Anyone know whats up with all the construction? Cleared a bunch of trees and bulldozed a path on the eh, "lavatory", side of the road. Also cleared the rocks piles at the Sandrock parking lot entrance. If they're adding facilities cool, I'd pay a few bucks for a shower and a bathroom. I hope it doesn't turn into a $20 a night state park though.

we talked to the old codger that watches over things and yeah they are going to make it a state park. Adding showers and electricity. I assume like an rv setup. We are headed back up there this weekend.

thats reasonable. I'll pay to have some rangers and maybe keep the place clean outside SCC cleanups. Water and Electricty are optional for my crowd lol. Just not that 25 per night crap like im bringing an RV or something

I agree. I went up there for the first time and the place is amazing, but I couldn't believe all the trash around, glass and beer cans... Not a big fan of the spray paint either... If building a park to keep the area clean and the idiots away, I'm all for it.

I'm not a big fan of it becoming a state park. The trash being cleaned up would be a huge bonus but i don't like the sound of RV hook ups and fees. i was there last weekend and they're making some progress on the construction. Also someone told be they're going to put wind turbines up there.

I went back to Sandrock yesterday. Last trip there, ever, most likely, unless I am doing a photo shoot. It is too much like a taking a 10 hour drive to a gym. It is probably me getting cranky with age.

An alternative: mid-week at Table Rock in Linville Gorge. Another world!

Yeah my fiancee and I climbed there a lot before we realized there are better areas around. It still certainly has its merits, there area some great routes and great boulder problems there, but the masses of gumbies kind of freaked us out. Never have I seen so many unsafe practices in such a small area! Then they started destroying the camp sites, and building crap up there, and it just made us sad every time we went there. There are a few routes I need to go back and send sometime, though. And its always nice to see Johnny Arms. Kinda scared to go see what they've done to the place though. There's actually a guy on here, "CRV" is his name (like Cherokee Rock Village) who works for the county. I tried to get him to justify what they're doing, and he never answered....

Strangely enough, I went back to Sandrock again yesterday. My middle son's father-in-law wanted to see a climbing area and get outdoors again. Last year, he and I hiked about half-way up Mt. Yonah, so this year we drove to Alabama. We ended up hiking along the wall watching the few climbers there. We ran into Johnny Arms and talked for about an hour, while watching a group climbing on gear. Johnny put up most of the routes here.

Thank you, Johnny! Thanks also to Richard, for driving, being good company, and letting your daughter marry my son!